Hovering field

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, method, and computer program product for: associating a first item with a first portion of a hovering field, the hovering field at least partially encompassing a device, providing a first virtual item representative of the first item and controlling spatial audio in dependence on a position of the first virtual item.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to providing a hovering field.

BACKGROUND

A user may input information into and receive information fromelectronic devices in many different ways. For example, a user may inputinformation using a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen and the like. Asanother example, a user may receive information from an electronicdevice via a display, a loudspeaker and the like.

SUMMARY

Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method comprising associating a first item with a first portion of ahovering field, the hovering field at least partially encompassing adevice and associating a second item with a second portion of thehovering field, wherein the relative positions of the first portion andthe second portion correspond to the relative positions of the firstitem and the second item in a data structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus comprising a processor, memory including computer programcode, the memory and the computer program code configured to, workingwith the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least thefollowing: associate a first item with a first portion of a hoveringfield, the hovering field at least partially encompassing a device andassociate a second item with a second portion of the hovering field,wherein the relative positions of the first portion and the secondportion correspond to the relative positions of the first item and thesecond item in a data structure.

In at least one example embodiment, the first portion comprises a firstlayer and the second portion comprises a second layer.

In at least one example embodiment the second layer is enclosed by thefirst layer.

In at least one example embodiment the first portion comprises a firstzone and the second portion comprises a second zone.

In at least one example embodiment at least one of the first portion andthe second portion extends from a first side of the device to a secondside of the device.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, define the center point ofthe device as the center point of the hovering field.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, define the center point of aside as the center point of the hovering field.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, in response to receiving auser input, rotate a portion of the hovering field by changing theposition of the first item relative to the second item in the hoveringfield.

In at least one example embodiment changing the position of the firstitem relative to the second item comprises changing the position in thehovering field without changing the position in the file structure.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, receive an indication of aninstruction to change a position of the first portion relative to thesecond portion of the hovering field and cause an action to beperformed.

In at least one example embodiment the user input comprises at least oneof a hovering gesture input and a facial expression.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, change the position of thefirst item along a trajectory corresponding to a shape of the hoveringfield.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, detect a portion of a firsthovering field that is in common with a second hovering field and detectan item comprised by the detected portion of the first hovering field.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, share the item with a devicecausing the second hovering field.

In at least one example embodiment the hovering field comprises avisible hovering field.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearingcomputer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, thecomputer program code comprising code for associating a first item witha first portion of a hovering field, the hovering field at leastpartially encompassing a device and code for associating a second itemwith a second portion of the hovering field, wherein the relativepositions of the first portion and the second portion correspond to therelative positions of the first item and the second item in a datastructure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is providedan apparatus, comprising means for associating a first item with a firstportion of a hovering field, the hovering field at least partiallyencompassing a device and means for associating a second item with asecond portion of the hovering field, wherein the relative positions ofthe first portion and the second portion correspond to the relativepositions of the first item and the second item in a data structure.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method comprising: associating a first item with a first portion of ahovering field, the hovering field at least partially encompassing adevice, providing a first virtual item representative of the first itemand controlling spatial audio in dependence on a position of the firstvirtual item associated with the first portion of the hovering field.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus comprising: a processor, memory including computer programcode, the memory and the computer program code configured to, workingwith the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least thefollowing: associate a first item with a first portion of a hoveringfield, the hovering field at least partially encompassing a device;provide a first virtual item representative of the first item; andcontrol spatial audio in dependence on a position of the first virtualitem associated with the first portion in the hovering field.

In at least one example embodiment the first virtual item comprises anaudio item representing audio.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are further configured to, with the processor, detect the positionof the audio item relative to a user and select a first loudspeaker independence on the detected position.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, cause routing of the audiorepresented by the audio item through the first loudspeaker.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, re-position the audio itemwherein re-positioning the audio item causes re-routing the audiorepresented by the audio item through a second loudspeaker.

In at least one example embodiment the first portion of the hoveringfield comprises a rotatable layer.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, associate an audio parameterwith the first portion of the hovering field.

In at least one example embodiment the audio parameter comprises anaudio equalizer setting.

In at least one example embodiment the memory and the computer programcode are configured to, with the processor, adjust the audio parameterin response to rotating the layer.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a computer program product comprising a computer-readablemedium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with acomputer, the computer program code comprising code for associating afirst item with a first portion of a hovering field, the hovering fieldat least partially encompassing a device, code for providing a firstvirtual item representative of the first item and code for controllingspatial audio in dependence on a position of the first virtual itemassociated with the first portion in the hovering field.

According to an eight aspect of the present invention there is providedan apparatus, comprising means for associating a first item with a firstportion of a hovering field, the hovering field at least partiallyencompassing a device, means for providing a first virtual itemrepresentative of the first item and means for controlling spatial audioin dependence on a position of the first virtual item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the presentinvention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example apparatus in which examplesof the disclosed embodiments may be applied;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another example apparatus in whichexamples of the disclosed embodiments may be applied;

FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate hovering fields in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrates an example of rotating a layer in a sphericalhovering field in accordance with an example embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of rotating a layer about two axes inaccordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates rotating portions of a spherical hovering field basedon facial expressions in accordance with an example embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of sharing an item based on overlappinghovering layers in accordance with an example embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method incorporating aspects of exampleembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate an example of a spherical hovering field thatcorresponds to a 360 degree spatial audio field around the user inaccordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrates an example of an audio equalizercontroller in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example method incorporating aspects ofexample embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of the present invention and its potentialadvantages are understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 11 of thedrawings.

According to an example embodiment there is provided a hovering field atleast partially encompassing a device. The hovering field may compriseone or more portions to which items may be associated. A portion maycomprise, for example, a rotatable layer or a zone. The hovering fieldmay be used for, for example, spatially expanding a data structure,sharing an item based on an overlapping hovering field, controllingspatial audio or adjusting parameter values.

In the examples below, an overlapping hovering field comprises a portionof a first hovering field that is in common with a second hoveringfield. The first hovering field may be provided by a first apparatus andthe second hovering field may be provided by a second apparatus.

In the examples below, spatial audio comprises spatially positioningsound objects such as sound tracks in a three dimensional (3D) space bypassing sound tracks through a sound-rendering system and reproducingthe sound tracks through multiple transducers distributed aroundlistening space. In this way, a spatial audio field may be provided tocreate an impression that sound is being generated from sound sourcesplaced in multiple locations in the listening space. Spatial audio maybe provided using different techniques such as loudspeaker stereophony,binaural technology or reconstruction using synthesis of the naturalwave field.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an apparatus 100 operating inaccordance with an example embodiment of the invention. The apparatus100 may, for example, be an electronic device such as a chip or achip-set. The apparatus 100 includes a processor 110 and a memory 160.In other examples, the apparatus 100 may comprise multiple processors.

In the example of FIG. 1, the processor 110 is a control unitoperatively connected to read from and write to the memory 160. Theprocessor 110 may also be configured to receive control signals receivedvia an input interface and/or the processor 110 may be configured tooutput control signals via an output interface. In an example embodimentthe processor 110 may be configured to convert the received controlsignals into appropriate commands for controlling functionalities of theapparatus.

The memory 160 stores computer program instructions 120 which whenloaded into the processor 110 control the operation of the apparatus 100as explained below. In other examples, the apparatus 100 may comprisemore than one memory 160 or different kinds of storage devices.

Computer program instructions 120 for enabling implementations ofexample embodiments of the invention or a part of such computer programinstructions may be loaded onto the apparatus 100 by the manufacturer ofthe apparatus 100, by a user of the apparatus 100, or by the apparatus100 itself based on a download program, or the instructions can bepushed to the apparatus 100 by an external device. The computer programinstructions may arrive at the apparatus 100 via an electromagneticcarrier signal or be copied from a physical entity such as a computerprogram product, a memory device or a record medium such as a CompactDisc (CD), a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), a Digital VersatileDisk (DVD) or a Blu-ray disk.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an apparatus 200 in accordance withan example embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 200 may be anelectronic device such as a hand-portable device, a mobile phone or aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Personal Computer (PC), a laptop, adesktop, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, a communicationterminal, a game console, a music player, an electronic book reader(e-book reader), a positioning device, a digital camera, a CD-DVD orBlu-ray player, or a media player. The apparatus 200 may also be, or becomprised in, a household appliance such as a refrigerator, a coffeemaker, or any other suitable device such as a dashboard in a car. In theexamples of FIGS. 2 and 3 it is assumed that the apparatus 200 is amobile computing device.

In this example, the mobile computing device 200 is illustrated ascomprising the apparatus 100, a display 210 and a user interface 220.However, the display 210 and/or user interface 220 may be external tothe apparatus 200 but in communication with it. In some examples thedisplay 210 may be incorporated into the user interface 220: forexample, the user interface 220 may include a touch screen display.

In the example of FIG. 2 the user interface 220 is configured to enableinputting and accessing information in the mobile computing device 200.According to an example embodiment, the user interface 220 comprises asurface capable of receiving user inputs. The surface may be an inputsurface such as a touch screen or a touch pad. In some exampleembodiments, the mobile computing device 200 may include both a touchscreen and a touch pad or multiple surfaces capable of receiving userinputs. A touch screen may be configured not only to enable accessingand/or inputting information but also to display user interface objects,while a touch pad may be configured to enable accessing and/or inputtinginformation and a separate display may be provided. In some exampleembodiments, no display is provided. A user may input and accessinformation by using a suitable input means such as a pointing means,one or more fingers, a stylus or a digital pen.

In an example embodiment, inputting and accessing information isperformed by touching the surface such as the surface of a touch screendisplay 210 or a touch pad. Additionally or alternatively, proximity ofan input means such as a finger or a stylus may be detected andinputting and accessing information may be performed by hovering thefinger or the stylus over the surface. In a further example embodimentthe surface may be a multi-touch surface configured to detect multipleat least partially concurrent touches on the surface.

A touch screen or a touch pad may be based on one or more of severaldifferent technologies. For example, different touch screen and padtechnologies include resistive, capacitive, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW),infrared, strain gauge, optical imaging, dispersive signal technologyand acoustic pulse recognition touch screens. A touch screen or a touchpad may also operate using a combination of different technologies.

Additionally or alternatively, the user interface 220 may comprise amanually operable control such as a button, a key, a joystick, a stylus,a pen, a roller, a rocker, a keypad, a keyboard or any suitable inputmechanism for inputting and/or accessing information. Further examplesinclude a microphone, a speech recognition system, eye movementrecognition system, acceleration-, tilt- and/or movement-based inputsystems.

Referring back to the example of FIG. 2, in addition to a display, themobile computing device 200 may include another kind of an output devicesuch as a tactile feedback system for presenting tactile and/or hapticinformation for a user. The tactile feedback system may be configured toreceive control signals provided by the processor 110. The tactilefeedback system may be configured to indicate a completed operation orto indicate selecting an operation, for example. In an exampleembodiment a tactile feedback system may cause the mobile computingdevice 200 to vibrate in a certain way to inform a user of an activatedand/or completed operation.

Example embodiments relate to user operations in a hovering field.

The hovering field may be provided by the apparatus 100, a separatemodule included in the mobile computing device 200, or a chip or achipset communicating with the apparatus 100. The hovering field may beprovided based on different technologies such as capacitive sensing,image sensors or a combination thereof. In the hovering field a user mayinput user inputs without a direct contact with the mobile computingdevice 200 or the apparatus 100 by means of one or more physicalgestures that are detectable within the hovering field by the apparatus100.

The shape of the hovering field may be determined by appropriatelyselecting one or more reference points for the hovering field. In theexample of FIG. 3a , the apparatus 100 is configured to define thecenter point of the mobile computing device 200 as the reference point350 for the hovering field. In this way, the apparatus 100 is configuredto define a three dimensional input area for receiving hovering inputs,the three dimensional input area comprising a shape of a sphere.

As another example, multiple reference points for the hovering field maybe defined. FIG. 3b illustrates an embodiment where the apparatus 100 isconfigured to define the center point of each side as the referencepoint for the hovering field. In this way, the apparatus 100 isconfigured to define a three dimensional input area for receivinghovering inputs. The three dimensional input area in this examplecomprises a shape of an ellipsoid. It should be noted that even though aspherical and an elliptical hovering field is illustrated in theexamples of FIGS. 3a and 3b , respectively, also other shapes or acombination of different shapes may be provided by appropriatelyselecting one or more reference points for the hovering field. Forexample, the apparatus 100 may be configured to define the center pointof a side of the mobile computing device 200 as a first reference pointof the hovering field 350 and the center point of the mobile computingdevice as a second reference point of the hovering field 350.

User inputs in a hovering field may be detected by a hover sensorsurface. The hover sensor surface may comprise, for example, an array ofsensors providing a hovering field. The hover sensor surface isconfigured to detect an object hovering over the surface. As anotherexample, the hover sensor surface may comprise, for example, flexiblefilm material 340 wrapped around the mobile computing device 200 inorder to provide a hovering field on each side of the mobile computingdevice 200. As a further example, the mobile computing device 200 may bemade of a flexible material wherein the hover sensor surface isintegrated.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured toassociate a first item with a first portion of the hovering field.Associating a first item with a first portion of a hovering field maycomprise providing by the apparatus 100 a virtual first itemrepresenting an item stored in the mobile computing device 200 or aserver. The virtual item is selectable by a user by selecting the firstportion in the hovering field. The apparatus 100 is configured to selectthe item stored in the mobile computing device 200/server in response toselecting the virtual item, the virtual item being representative of theitem stored in the mobile computing device 200/server. According to anexample embodiment, a virtual item in a hovering field provided by anapparatus 100 and comprised by a mobile computing device 200 may be arepresentative of an item stored on a server. In other words, thehovering field at least partially encompassing the mobile computingdevice 200 may be used as an interface for accessing items on a server.

The apparatus 100 may also be configured to associate a second item witha second portion of the hovering field. Similarly to associating a firstitem with a first portion of the hovering field, associating a secondfile with a second portion of a hovering field may comprise providing bythe apparatus 100 a virtual second item representative of a second itemstored in the mobile computing device 200/server and being selectable bya user by selecting the second portion in the hovering field. Therelative positions of the first portion and the second portion maycorrespond to the relative positions of the first item and the seconditem in a data structure. The data structure may be comprised by themobile computing device 200 or a server. The data structure may comprisea file structure such as a hierarchical structure comprising parentnodes and child nodes. In an example embodiment, the first file is asong and the second file is a music album comprising the song.

The first item and/or the second item may comprise, for example, a dataitem such as a file, a folder, a data structure or portion of a datastructure, selectable items within a menu system, or the like. A filemay comprise any suitable file such as a media file, a picture file, atext file or the like.

Without limiting the scope of the claims, an advantage of associatingone or more files with a hovering field may be that a file structure isspatially expanded and selecting items in the file structure may beeasier for the user.

According to an example embodiment, a hover sensor surface is providedon the mobile computing device 200 and the apparatus 100 is operativelyconnected to the hover sensor surface. The apparatus 100 is configuredto receive information about the selecting object within the hoveringfield, detected by the hover sensor surface. The apparatus 100 isfurther configured to receive an indication of a distance between thereference point and the selecting object and/or receive an indication ofcoordinate data of the selecting object.

According to an example embodiment, an item associated with a portion ofthe hovering field may be selected by selecting a virtual itemrepresentative of an item stored in the mobile computing device200/server based on three dimensional (3D) coordinate data such as X, Yand Z coordinate data. In this example, Z coordinate data represents thedepth dimension of the hovering field. X and Y coordinate data representa target point or a target area on the hover sensor surface. Forexample, a target point or a target area may comprise a point or anarea, respectively, on the hover sensor surface that is selected by theselecting object when Z coordinate data of the selecting object is zero(e.g. when the selecting object touches the hover sensor surface). Theapparatus 100 is configured to select the item associated with a portionof the hovering field when the X, Y and Z coordinate data of theselecting object correspond to X, Y and Z coordinate data of the virtualitem representative of the item stored in the mobile computing device200/server.

According to another example embodiment, a portion of the hovering fieldmay be selected based on a distance between a selecting object (e.g. afinger, a stylus or a digital pen) and a reference point for thehovering field. For example, if the hovering field comprises multipleportions such as layers, a portion may be selected based on the distancebetween a selecting object and a reference point. It should be notedthat, if an item associated with a portion of the hovering fieldcorresponds to a whole layer, the virtual item representative of theitem stored in the mobile computing device 200/server may be selectedsolely based on the distance between the selecting object and thereference point. The apparatus 100 is configured to select the portionof the hovering field when the distance between the selecting object andthe reference point correspond to a distance between the layer and thereference point. Therefore, the apparatus 100 may be configured toselect an item associated with a portion of the hovering field and/or aportion of the hovering field based on X, Y or Z coordinate data, adistance between a selecting object and a reference point, or anycombination thereof.

The origin of the X, Y and Z coordinate axes may comprise a referencepoint for the hovering field. In some examples, the apparatus 100 may beconfigured to define multiple origins if multiple reference points forthe hovering field are provided. Hence, the apparatus 100 may beconfigured to receive an indication of a three dimensional (3D) hoveringgesture.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 may be configuredto select an item stored in the mobile computing device 200/server inresponse to receiving an indication that a user has selected a portionwith which the item is associated. On the other hand, the apparatus 100may be configured to select a portion of the hovering field in responseto receiving an indication that a user has selected a portion of thehovering field with which no item is associated.

Without limiting the scope of the claims, an advantage of selecting aportion based on a distance between a selecting object and the mobilecomputing device 200 may be that a user does not need to go throughcomplex menu, file or other data structures to select an item, but theuser may directly select a desired portion. For example, when using atraditional file system, a user may need to browse through multiple menulevels by selecting consecutive menu levels one after another to be ableto select a desired item. In other words, several user inputs may berequired until the desired item can be selected. However, using ahovering field, a user may browse through multiple menu levels byvarying the distance between the selecting object and the referencepoint.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured tomove a virtual item representative of an item stored in the mobilecomputing device 200/server in the hovering field in response toreceiving a user input. Moving may comprise, for example, moving thevirtual item from a first portion to a second portion. Moving thevirtual item from a first portion to a second portion may comprisedissociating the item stored in the mobile computing device 200/serverfrom the first portion and associating the item with the second portion.Moving the virtual item within the hovering field may or may not cause acorresponding movement of the item stored in the mobile computing device200/server. According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 isconfigured to change the position of the first virtual item relative tothe second virtual item without changing the position of the first itemin a data structure. In other words, changing the positions of virtualitems may not change the physical positions of the items stored in adata structure, but only the virtual positions in the hovering field.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured tochange a position of a first portion relative to a second portion. Forexample, in the example of FIG. 4b , if the first portion comprises afirst layer 310 and the second portion comprises a second layer 320, thefirst layer 310 may be rotated relative to the second layer 320.Alternatively or additionally, the second layer 320 may be rotatedrelative to the first layer 310. Rotating a portion may compriserotating all the virtual items within the portion, i.e. 710 s and 720 inthe first layer 310 and optional virtual item 750 in the second layer320. The apparatus 100 may be configured to receive an indication of aninstruction from the user, i.e. a gesture using a finger 730 in thedirection of the arrow 740, to change a position of the first portionrelative to the second portion of the hovering field 300. For example,the instruction to change a position of the first portion relative tothe second portion may comprise, for example, a hovering gesture such asa flick gesture, a push gesture, a drag gesture, a “like” gesture (e.g.a thumbs up), a “dislike” gesture (e.g. a thumbs down) or any othersuitable gesture such as a combination thereof. Rotation of the firstlayer 310 may result in the example of FIG. 4c , where the virtual items710 s and 720 of the first layer 310 are rotated relative to theoptional virtual item 750 of the second layer.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to change theposition of the first virtual item along a trajectory corresponding to ashape of the hovering field. For example, if the hovering field is aspherical hovering field, the position of a virtual item may be changedalong a spherical trajectory. As another example, if the hovering fieldis an ellipsoid, the position of a virtual item may be changed along anelliptical trajectory.

In an example embodiment moving a virtual item and/or a portion maycause an action to be performed. The action may relate to the item ofwhich the virtual item is representative and/or the portion. The actionmay comprise, for example, changing the status of the item (e.g. frompublic to private or vice versa), purchasing the item, or setting arating for the item (e.g. liking or disliking the item) and/or the like.

According to an example embodiment, the hovering field at leastpartially encompasses a device such as the mobile computing device 200.In an example embodiment, the hovering field may completely encompassthe mobile computing device 200. According to an example embodiment, ahovering field at least partially encompassing a device comprises atleast one portion of the hovering field extending from a first side ofthe device to a second side of the device.

In an example embodiment, the hovering field is divided into layersbased on a number of levels in a data structure comprised in the mobilecomputing device 200 or a server. For example, the number of layers maycorrespond to the number of levels in a hierarchical file structure. Thehovering field may be divided into multiple layers based on the distancefrom a reference point for the hovering field such as a center point ofa device. The apparatus 100 is configured to define a layer as a rangeof distances from a reference point of the hovering field. For example,a first layer may correspond to distances from 8 to 10 cm from thereference point for the hovering field, a second layer may correspond todistances from 6 to 7.9 cm from the reference point for the hoveringfield, and a third layer may correspond to distances from 4 to 5.9 cmfrom the reference point for the hovering field. In an exampleembodiment, the user may define the number of layers provided. It shouldbe noted that in different embodiments different distances and/or adifferent number of layers may be provided.

As discussed above, the first portion of a hovering field may comprise afirst layer and the second portion of a hovering field may comprise asecond layer. In an example embodiment, the second layer is enclosed bythe first layer. In an example embodiment, different layers correspondto different levels in a data structure. The order of the layers may ormay not correspond to the order of the different levels in a datastructure.

In the example of FIG. 3c , the reference point 350 for the hoveringfield is defined by the apparatus 100 as the center of the mobilecomputing device 200. In this example, the selecting object is a finger360. The hovering field comprises a spherical hovering field 300comprising a first layer 310, a second layer 320 and a third layer 330.The third layer is enclosed by the second layer 320 and the second layer320 is enclosed by the first layer 310. The user may select the secondlayer, or an item associated with the layer, when the distance D betweenthe finger 360 and the reference point for the hovering field 350corresponds to a range of distances associated with the second layer.For example, if the second layer is defined as the range of distancesfrom 6 to 7.9 cm from the reference point for the hovering field 350,and the distance D between the finger 360 and the center of the hoveringfield is 7 cm, it is interpreted by the apparatus 100 that the secondlayer, or an item associated with the layer, is selected by the user. Aselection of a layer may be indicated by providing haptic feedback forthe user.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to maintain alayer selected even though the distance between the finger 360 and thecenter of the hovering field may change. For example, the apparatus 100may be configured to maintain the layer selected during an operationrelating to an item associated with the layer (e.g. during modifying aparameter relating to the item associated with the layer). The apparatus100 may further be configured to release the layer in response toreceiving an indication that the operation is finished. In this way, anunintentional selection of another layer may be avoided when performingthe operation.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to providehaptic, visual and/or audio feedback indicating a selected portion inthe hovering field. The selected portion may comprise a portion withwhich an item is associated in the hovering field or a portion withwhich no item is associated. For example, the apparatus 100 may beconfigured to provide visual and/or haptic feedback indicating theselected portion. Visual feedback may comprise, for example,highlighting the selected portion, illuminating the selected portion,using different colors to indicate the selected portion or anycombination thereof. A selected portion may be highlighted, illuminatedor indicated using colors by means of highlighting, illuminating orindicating, on the touch screen display, one or more virtual itemsassociated with the selected portion. In other words, the appearance ofa virtual item within a portion may indicate to a user whether theportion is selected or not. Haptic feedback may comprise, for example,vibrotactile feedback, providing sensations of force and/or motion tothe user or any combination thereof. For example, different tactilefeedback may be provided such that in response to selecting a firstportion, a first tactile pattern may be provided and in response toselecting a second portion, a second tactile pattern may be provided. Asanother example, if the selected portion comprises a layer, the numberof feedback sequences may correspond to an ordinal number of the layer.

Without limiting the scope of the claims, providing feedback indicatinga selected portion may assist a user in performing a selection process.

In addition to selecting a virtual item, the user may also perform otheractions with the hovering field. According to an example embodiment, thehovering field as a whole or a portion of the hovering field may berotatable. Rotating the hovering field may comprise rotating all thevirtual items associated with one or more portions of the hoveringfield. Similarly, rotating a portion of the hovering field may compriserotating all the virtual items associated with the portion. Theapparatus 100 may be configured to rotate the hovering field or aportion of the hovering field in response to receiving an indication ofa rotating input from the user. A first portion and a second portion ofthe hovering field may be individually rotatable. A portion of thehovering field may comprise, for example, a layer or a zone. The userinput may comprise any suitable user input such as a hovering gestureinput and/or a facial expression detected by a camera. Rotating aportion of the hovering field or the hovering field as a whole may ormay not cause a corresponding movement of associated items stored in themobile computing device 200/server.

Rotating the hovering field as a whole may comprise moving the virtualitems associated with different portions of the hovering field relativeto the mobile computing device 200. For example, rotating the hoveringfield as a whole may cause virtual items to move from the back of themobile computing device 200 to the front of the mobile computing device.

Rotating a first portion may comprise moving at least one virtual itemrepresentative of a first item associated with the first portion,relative to a virtual item representative of a second item associatedwith a second portion. As another example, rotating a portion maycomprise changing the position of a virtual representative of an itemassociated with a portion relative to the mobile computing device 200.For example, if the portion comprises a layer, rotating a first layermay cause one or more virtual items to move from the back of the mobilecomputing device 200 to the front of the mobile computing device 200.When a virtual item is in front of the mobile computing device 200, itmay be selected via a touch screen display of the device. Selecting theitem via the touch screen display may comprise selecting the item with ahovering gesture based on a distance between the selecting object and areference point for the hovering field.

FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrate an example of rotating a layer in a sphericalhovering field 300. In this example, the spherical hovering field 300comprises three layers: a first layer 310, a second layer 320 and athird layer 330. The third layer 330 is enclosed by the second layer320, and the second layer 320 is enclosed by the first layer 310. Thefirst layer comprises four virtual items 710, 720. Further, thespherical hovering field 300 at least partially encompasses a mobilecomputing device 200. In this example, the mobile computing device 200comprises an apparatus 100 and a touch screen display 210, 220 via whicha user may select items. It is assumed that the center of the mobilecomputing device 200 is defined as a reference point for the sphericalhovering field. In this example, the X axis is defined as being parallelto a first side of the mobile computing device 200, the Y axis isparallel to a second side of the mobile computing device 200 and the Zaxis is perpendicular to the X and Y axes. A layer may be selected basedon the distance between the finger 730 and the center of the mobilecomputing device 200.

FIG. 4a illustrates the relative positions of virtual items 710, 720with respect to the touch screen display 210, 220. The virtual items 710and 720 are representatives of items associated with different portionsof a layer in a hovering field. Virtual items 710 are positioned along anegative portion of the Z axis and item 720 is positioned along apositive portion of the Z axis. In other words, items 710 may beconsidered as being “behind” the mobile computing device 200, whereasitem 720 may be considered as being “in front of” the mobile computingdevice and directly selectable by the user via the touch screen display20, 220.

FIG. 4b illustrates a user rotating a layer in the spherical hoveringfield 300. FIG. 4b corresponds to the situation of FIG. 4a : the virtualitem 720 is illustrated in FIG. 4a as being located in the hoveringfield in front of the mobile computing device 200. Virtual items 710 areillustrated in FIG. 4a as being located in the hovering field behind themobile computing device 200. In the example of FIG. 4b the user selectsand rotates the first layer 310 such that the three virtual items 710move from behind the mobile computing device 200 to the front of themobile computing device. Further, the virtual item 720 moves from thefront of the mobile computing device 200 to behind the device such thatthe relative positions of the virtual items 710, 720 are retained. Theuser may rotate the first layer 310 by a gesture, for example, in thedirection of the arrow 740.

FIG. 4c illustrates the situation after rotating the first layer. Thevirtual items 710 are now illustrated as being in front of the mobilecomputing device 200 and the virtual item 720 is illustrated as beingbehind the mobile computing device 200. The user may now select an itemof which the virtual item 710 is representative via the touch screendisplay 210, 220 based on the relative positions of the finger 730 andthe center of the mobile computing device 200.

In an example embodiment, a mobile computing device 200 comprises anapparatus 100, a touch screen display on a first side of the mobilecomputing device 200 and a backside surface on a second side of themobile computing device 200. The first side and the second side of themobile computing device 200 are opposite to each other and within adistance from each other. The apparatus 100 is configured to interpret ahovering gesture detected at a distance from the first side of themobile computing device 200 as a selecting input for selecting forselecting an item associated with a portion of the hovering field.According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is furtherconfigured to interpret a hovering gesture detected at a distance fromthe second side of the mobile computing device 200 as a rotating inputfor rotating a portion of the hovering field such as a layer of thehovering field.

The apparatus 100 is configured to detect a rotating input. Theapparatus 100 is configured to receive an indication of X, Y and Zcoordinate data of the rotating input. In this example the user wishesto rotate a layer in a spherical hovering field. The apparatus 100 isconfigured to select a layer based on a distance between a rotatingobject and a reference point for the hovering field. A layer may berotated by a tangential hovering gesture relative to a layer. Forexample, assuming the user rotates the layer on the second side of themobile computing device 200 such that only X coordinate data of theselecting object changes (i.e. Y and Z coordinate data are constant),the selected layer is rotated by the apparatus 100 around Y axis.Assuming the user rotates the layer on the second side of the mobilecomputing device 200 such that only Y coordinate data of the selectingobject changes (i.e. X and Z coordinate data are constant), the selectedlayer is rotated by the apparatus 100 around X axis. Assuming the userrotates the layer on the second side of the mobile computing device 200such that both X and Y coordinate data of the selecting object changes(i.e. Z coordinate data is constant), the selected layer is rotatedaround both Y and X axes.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured torotate a layer about at least two axes. FIG. 5 illustrates such asituation: virtual items 720 are organized horizontally on a first layerwhereas virtual items 710 are organized on a second layer as having a135 degrees angle compared to virtual items 720 on the first layer.

According to an example embodiment, the first portion comprises a firstzone and the second portion comprises a second zone.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example 600 of rotating portions of a sphericalhovering field based on facial expressions. In the example of FIG. 6,the spherical hovering field comprises six zones 610. In this example,the mobile computing device 200 comprises an apparatus 100 and a camera.The apparatus 100 is configured to detect a user's facial expressionsreceived via the camera. Each zone is associated with a facialexpression. The facial expressions may comprise, for example, anger,joy, surprise, disgust, sadness, fear or any other suitable facialexpressions. Further, one or more items are associated with a zone, theone or more items relating to the associated facial expression. Forexample, if a facial expression indicating sadness is associated with azone, the items associated with the sadness zone are songs that compriseat least one characteristic related to sadness, melancholy and/or thelike.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to rotate thespherical hovering field such that the zone that corresponds to theuser's facial expression is selectable by the user. A zone may beselected similarly to selecting an item. For example, a zone may beselected by a hovering gesture within a display area. Alternatively, azone may be selected by a touch gesture on a touch screen display.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured tocause capturing the user's facial expression using the camera inresponse to a trigger such as, for example, receiving an indication thatthe user picked the mobile computing device 200 up, receiving anindication that a user has moved the device, grabbed the device, or thelike. In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 may be configured todetect a change in the user's facial expression and cause rotating theitems associated with the spherical hovering field. The user's facialexpressions may be captured continuously or periodically, or only at oneinstant for example in immediate response to a trigger.

According to an example embodiment, a first mobile computing device 200comprising the apparatus 100 may be configured to provide a firsthovering field. The apparatus 100 included in the first mobile computingdevice 200 is configured to detect a hovering field provided by a secondmobile computing device which at least partially overlaps with the firsthovering field so as to produce an overlapping hovering field. Anoverlapping hovering field may comprise a portion of a first hoveringfield that is in common with a second hovering field. An overlappinghovering field may be detected by the apparatus 100 by detecting, usingthe first hovering field, that the second mobile computing device is inclose proximity of the first mobile computing device 200. The apparatus100 may also be configured to receive information about the propertiesof the second mobile computing device and/or the hovering field providedby the second mobile computing device from the second mobile computingdevice. An overlapping hovering field may be detected by the apparatus100, by receiving an indication of an overlapping hovering field from amodule, a chip or a chipset configured to communicate with the apparatus100 or by receiving an indication of the overlap from an externaldevice.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to select aportion of the first hovering field in dependence on the magnitude ofthe overlap. For example, if the hovering field comprises a first layerand a second layer wherein the second layer is enclosed by the firstlayer, the apparatus 100 may detect or receive an indication that afurther hovering field overlaps with the first layer. The furtherhovering field may be provided by a separate apparatus that isindependent of the apparatus 100. The magnitude of the overlap may beindicated to the user of either the first mobile computing device 200,the second mobile computing device or both by providing, for example,haptic feedback.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured toshare an item stored in the mobile computing device 200/server with adevice causing an overlapping hovering field.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of sharing an item stored in the sendingmobile computing device 200 based on overlapping hovering layers betweenthe sending mobile computing device 200 and a receiving mobile computingdevice 201. Sharing an item may comprise sending, transferring,transmitting, copying or moving the item from the sending mobilecomputing device 200 to the receiving mobile computing device 201. Inthis example, it is assumed that both the sending mobile computingdevice 200 and the receiving mobile computing device 201 comprise anapparatus 100. In the example of FIG. 7, the sending mobile computingdevice 200 is configured to provide a first spherical hovering field 530at least partially encompassing the sending mobile computing device 200.The first spherical hovering field 530 comprises three layers 310, 320,330. A first layer 310 encloses a second layer 320 which encloses athird layer 330. Further, items 510, 520 are associated with a firstlayer 310. The receiving mobile computing device 201 is configured toprovide a second spherical hovering field 531 at least partiallyencompassing the second mobile computing device 201. The secondspherical hovering field 531 comprises three layers 311, 321, 331. Afirst layer 311 encloses a second layer 321 which encloses a third layer331.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 included in the sendingmobile computing device 200 is configured to detect that the receivingmobile computing device 201 is within a threshold distance from thesending mobile computing device 200. Detecting that the receiving mobilecomputing device 201 is within the threshold distance may be based ondetecting the receiving mobile computing device 201 within the hoveringfield 530 provided by the sending mobile computing device 200, based onoverlapping spherical hovering fields 530 and 531 or based on acommunication between the devices 200 and 201. Detection by a hoveringfield may be based on information received from a hover sensor, a cameraor any combination thereof.

The apparatus 100 of the sending mobile computing device 200 may furtherbe configured to determine overlapping layers of a plurality ofoverlapping hovering fields and select at least one layer based on adegree of overlap. The degree of overlap may comprise, for example, anumber of layers that overlap each other. As mentioned above, hapticfeedback may be provided by the apparatus 100 of the sending mobilecomputing device 200 to indicate the selected layer to the user. Hapticfeedback may also be provided upon detecting a change in the degree ofthe overlap.

In the example of FIG. 7, the first spherical hovering field 530comprising virtual items 510, 520 overlaps with the second sphericalhovering field 531 such that one virtual item 520 is comprised by theportion that is in common with the first 530 and second 531 sphericalhovering field. The apparatus 100 of the sending mobile computing device200 is configured to determine that the item of which a virtual item isrepresentative is to be shared based on the overlapping portion betweena first spherical hovering field and a second spherical hovering field.

Sharing may be initiated, for example, after the mobile devices 200 and201 have remained within a predefined distance and/or in an overlappingposition for a predefined period of time. The period of time maycomprise, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 seconds, or 2 to 10 seconds. Thesharing may be performed over a radio communication link such as usingBluetooth, WiFi or near field communication (NFC) technology. In thisexample, sharing comprises sending a copy of the item of which thevirtual item 520 is representative from the sending mobile computingdevice 200 to the receiving mobile computing device 201. The apparatus100 of the receiving mobile computing device 201 may be configured toacknowledge the received item with a sound or a vibrotactile feedback.In this way, the receiving person knows that the sharing is completed.

The apparatus 100 of the sending device 200 or the receiving device 201or both, may further be configured to select at least one additionalvirtual item in response to a user action. The user action may comprise,for example, tilting, shaking, turning or performing a gesture with oron the sending mobile computing device 200 or the receiving mobilecomputing device 201. For example, if the first virtual item is selectedbased on overlapping layers, tilting the mobile device 200/201 to theleft may cause selecting one or more virtual items on the left of theselected item. Similarly, tilting the mobile computing device 200/201 tothe right may cause selecting one or more virtual items on the right ofthe selected virtual item. In some examples, tilting the mobilecomputing device 200/201 may cause selecting one or more virtual itemsindependent of the direction of tilting.

The apparatus 100 may be configured to select the at least oneadditional virtual item in dependence on a location and/or a type of thefirst virtual item. For example, the at least one additional virtualitem may be selected in the same layer as the first virtual item. Asanother example, the at least one additional virtual item may beselected based on a relation between the first virtual item and thevirtual second item. In this example, the at least one additionalvirtual item may be included in a different layer than the first virtualitem. For example, if the first virtual item represents a music albumassociated with a first layer, the at least one related virtual item maybe associated with a second layer and comprise representation of a songincluded in the music album.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to selectmultiple virtual items in response to receiving an indication that arange of layers are overlapping with the hovering field of the receivingmobile computing device 200. The apparatus 100 may be configured todetect a change in the degree of overlapping of layers. For example, theapparatus 100 may detect that first the number of overlapping layers isone, then two and then three. Hence, virtual items from three layers maybe selected. In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configuredto receive a user input to enable selecting a range of layers.

According to an example embodiment, a user profile may be utilized forselecting and/or recommending items to be shared. For example, theapparatus 100 of the sending mobile computing device 200 may beconfigured to detect user behavior and cause storing of music listeninghistory, preferences, social network activity and/or the like. Further,the apparatus 100 may be configured to create a user profile based onthe detected user behavior. This information may be used to predictwhich items the user most probably wishes to share.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured toautomatically rotate a layer comprising items that the user mostprobably wishes to share. This may comprise, for example, rotating thelayer so that as little overlapping of spherical hovering fields aspossible is needed to select the virtual items. In an exampleembodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to provide feedbackindicating that the receiving device or the hovering field provided bythe receiving device is approaching a virtual item representative ofcontent on the sending device that is detected as likely to be shared.The apparatus 100 may be configured to provide different levels and/orstyles of feedback in dependence on the probability of the item to belikely shared.

According to an example embodiment, the spherical hovering fieldcomprises a visible hovering field. A visible hovering field may becreated, for example, by suitably illuminating the hovering field, forexample, by LEDs incorporated with the mobile computing device 200.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example method 400 incorporating aspects of thepreviously disclosed embodiments. In this example it is assumed that themethod is implemented in the mobile computing device 200. Morespecifically the example method 400 illustrates associating items withportions of a hovering field.

The method starts with associating 401 associating a first item with afirst portion of a hovering field. The hovering field may at leastpartially encompass a device. The device may be, for example, a mobilecomputing device 200.

At block 402, the method continues with associating a second item with asecond portion of the hovering field. The relative positions of thefirst portion and the second portion may correspond to the relativepositions of the first item and the second item in a data structure. Thedata structure may be comprised by a mobile computing device 200 or aserver.

Reference will now be made to a further example embodiment in which anapparatus 100 is configured to associate a first item stored in a mobilecomputing device/server with a first portion of a hovering field, thehovering field at least partially encompassing a device such as a mobilecomputing device. In this example, the apparatus 100 is furtherconfigured to control spatial audio field such as surround sound fieldin dependence of a position of a virtual item representative of thefirst item associated with the first portion in the hovering field.Spatial audio field may be created by a surround sound systemsurrounding a listener. A surround sound system may comprise multipleloudspeakers through which multiple discrete audio channels are routed.As another example, an illusion of a spatial audio field may be createdby headphones.

According to an example embodiment, the reference point for the hoveringfield corresponds to the center point of a spatial audio field around auser (e.g. 360 degree audio field around the user). In other words, theapparatus 100 is configured to define that the user's positioncorresponds to a reference point of the hovering field such as a centerof a spherical hovering field. Further, the reference point of thehovering field may correspond to the center of the audio field. Forexample, the user may be sitting on a sofa and the mobile computingdevice 200 may be connected to an external surround capable systemproviding a spatial audio field. As another example, the user may belistening to audio via headphones and the mobile computing device 200may use, for example, binaural audio rendering methods to create anillusion of a spatial audio field surrounding the user.

Without limiting the scope of the claims, a reference point of ahovering field corresponding to the position of the user and the centerof the spatial audio field may enable a user to intuitively control,using the hovering field, spatial audio around him. A user may see ahovering field as a metaphor corresponding to, for example, hisimmediate surroundings, or the globe, and can organize items in thehovering field accordingly.

According to an example embodiment, the first virtual item comprises anaudio item representing audio. The apparatus 100 is configured to detectthe position of the audio item relative to the user and cause selectinga first loudspeaker in dependence on the detected position. Theapparatus is further configured to cause routing the audio representedby the audio item through the first loudspeaker.

FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate a spherical hovering field that correspondsto a 360 degree spatial audio field around the user.

FIG. 9a illustrates an example, where a user 910 faces the mobilecomputing device 200. The spherical hovering field comprises a firstlayer 310, a second layer 320 and a third layer 330 at least partiallyencompassing a mobile computing device 200. A portion of the first layer310 corresponds to a first audio track 1 of a song, a portion of thesecond layer 320 corresponds to a second audio track 2 of the song and aportion of the third layer corresponds to a third audio track 3 of thesong.

FIG. 9b illustrates an example, where the spatial audio field isprovided by loudspeakers 920, 921, 922, 923 and 924 around the user 910.The reference point of the hovering field corresponds to the center ofthe spatial audio field. Since the user's position is defined tocorrespond to the reference point of the hovering field, and thereference point for the hovering field corresponds to the center pointof the spatial audio field, the user's position is regarded by theapparatus 100 as the center of the spatial audio field. The apparatus100 is configured to detect a position of an audio track relative to thereference point of the hovering field, and cause routing the audio trackthrough a corresponding loudspeaker. In the example of FIG. 9b , theapparatus 100 is configured to route the first audio track 1 throughloudspeakers 920 and 921, the second audio track 2 through loudspeaker923 and the third audio track 3 through 923 and 924.

According to an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured tore-position the audio item and cause re-routing the audio represented bythe audio item through a second loudspeaker. The apparatus 100 may beconfigured to receive an indication of a user input for re-positioningthe audio item. Re-positioning may comprise changing the position of theaudio item within the hovering field. In this way, the user may controlthe spatial audio field around him by moving audio items representingaudio within a hovering field and define through which loudspeakersaudio is routed.

Re-routing audio may be triggered by rotating a rotatable layer. Forexample, a user may hear a sound source A from a first direction and asound source B from a second direction. With rotating the layer with twofingers the user may switch the positions of the sound sources with asingle action. A two finger gesture may be used to make a distinctionwith a hovering gesture for selecting an item, which may be made withone finger. For example, the user may rotate the sound source A to comefrom the second direction and sound source B to come from the firstdirection, or any other appropriate location around the user. It shouldbe noted that the user may also use some other gesture than a two fingergesture. For example, the user may use a gesture with more or lessfingers or the user may define the gesture himself.

The hovering field may comprise a first audio attribute associated witha first layer and a second audio attribute associated with a secondlayer. For example, a first layer and a second layer may have a firstvolume level and a second volume level, respectively. The apparatus 100may be configured to adjust an audio attribute in response to a hoveringinput from the user. For example, the apparatus 100 may be configured toincrease the volume level of a layer or an audio object associated witha layer in response to receiving an indication of a hovering input overthe layer or the audio object, respectively. The hovering input over thelayer or an audio object may comprise for example, hovering along thelayer, parallel to the layer, perpendicular to the layer, a series ofhovering gestures or the like.

As another example, the apparatus 100 may be configured to control thevolume level of an audio object in response to detecting that arepresentation of the audio object is moved from the first layer to thesecond layer. For example, if the representation of the audio object ismoved to a second layer that is farther away from the reference point ofthe hovering field, the volume of the object may be decreased. On theother hand, if the audio object is moved to a second layer that iscloser to the reference point of the hovering field, the volume of theaudio object may be increased.

The apparatus 100 is configured to associate an audio parameter with afirst portion of the hovering field. A value of the audio parameterassociated with the first portion of the hovering field may be adjustedby selecting the item by the user and adjusting the audio parameter witha hovering gesture. The hovering gesture may comprise, for example,movement and the parameter value may be controlled by the amount ofmovement. As another example, the amount of the parameter adjustment maybe predefined.

The apparatus 100 may further be configured to adjust the audioparameter in response to rotating the layer. The layer may be rotated,for example, in response to a user input. According to an exampleembodiment, multiple audio parameters may be associated with a layer.The apparatus 100 is configured to receive an indication of a selectedlayer and an indication of direction of movement related to the layer. Aparameter value associated with a layer may be adjusted, for example, bythe amount of detected movement. Hence, a user may adjust the multipleaudio parameters with a single user input.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to selectmultiple layers and control parameter values associated with themconcurrently. The apparatus 100 is configured to adjust a firstparameter value associated with a first layer by a first gesture and asecond parameter associated with a second layer by a second gesture. Thefirst and second gesture may be performed respectively at a firstdistance and a second distance from a reference point of the hoveringfield. The first and the second parameter values may be adjusted independence of a direction of movement of the first and the secondgestures, respectively. For example, the amount of adjusting maycorrespond to the amount of movement of the gestures.

For example, items representing ten singers forming ten audio tracks maybe associated with a first layer such that they are evenly or non-evenlydistributed in a spatial audio field. Volumes of the singers and theirindividual balances may be associated with a second layer. By selectingboth the first layer and the second layer the user may adjust thespatial positions of all the singers with a first hovering gesture andconcurrently control the volumes of all the ten audio tracks,maintaining the volume balance, with a second hovering gesture. If theuser decides not to continue with the second gesture, but only continuewith the first gesture, the user may continue with solely controllingthe spatial position of the singers. Therefore, each layer may becontrolled individually with a single gesture.

In case the apparatus 100 or the mobile computing device 200 does notsupport detecting concurrent hovering gestures, a user may still have anoption to select multiple layers by selecting virtual items associatedwith the layers, for example on a touch screen of the mobile computingdevice 200. Parameter values for the items associated with the layersmay be adjusted by a hovering gesture at a distance from the referencepoint of the hovering field.

In an example embodiment, the audio parameter comprises an audioequalizer (EQ) setting and the hovering field may be used forcontrolling audio equalizer (EQ) settings. In general, an audioequalizer may be used for altering the frequency response of an audiosystem using linear filters.

In terms of controlling an audio equalizer setting, a hovering field maybe used for controlling, for example, a Q value that controls the numberof frequencies that will be cut or boosted by the audio equalizer. Thelower the Q value, the more frequencies will be affected. Similarly, thehigher the Q value, the fewer frequencies will be affected. For example,the user may have associated multiple different Q values with a specificlayer. With a single action, the user can concurrently increase anddecrease the Q values.

FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate an example of an audio equalizercontroller. FIG. 10a illustrates a front view of the mobile computingdevice 200 and FIG. 10b illustrates a side view of the mobile computingdevice 200. In the example of FIG. 10a , the audio equalizer controlleris implemented in a mobile computing device 200 comprising an apparatus100 and a touch screen display 210, 220. The audio equalizer controllercomprises a three-band (low (Lo), mid (Mid) and high (Hi) bands)equalizer controller integrated into a music player. In this example,the front part of the audio equalizer (closest to the user facing thedevice) is the maximum setting for a parameter. Correspondingly, theback part of the audio equalizer (farthest from the user) is the minimumsetting for a parameter.

In the example of FIG. 10b , a spherical hovering field 300 encloses themobile computing device 200. The apparatus 100 is configured to receivean indication of a layer selected by a user. The apparatus 100 isfurther configured to determine an effect parameter associated with thelayer and adjust the effect parameter value in dependence of thehovering gesture. The effect parameter value may be adjusted, forexample, by a predetermined amount to the direction defined by thedirection of the hovering gesture.

Audio effects may include, for example, spatial audio position, volume,echo, flanger, phaser, chorus, equalization, filtering, overdrive, pitchshift, time stretching, resonators, robotic voice effects, modulation,compression or reverse echo.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example method 1100 incorporating aspects ofthe previously disclosed embodiments. In this example it is assumed thatthe method is implemented in the mobile computing device 200. Morespecifically the example method 1100 illustrates associating an audioparameter with a first portion of the hovering field.

The method starts with associating 1101 a first item with a firstportion of a hovering field The hovering field may at least partiallyencompass the mobile computing device 200.

At block 1102 a first virtual item representative of the first item isprovided.

At block 1103, the method continues with controlling spatial audio independence on a position of the first virtual item.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application ofthe claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of theexample embodiments disclosed herein may be that a shape of a hoveringfield may be defined by appropriately selecting one or more centerpoints of the hovering field. Another technical effect is that complexdata structures may be spatially expanded such that a user does not needto select an item through complex menu structures. Yet another technicaleffect is that spatial audio may be controlled or parameter values maybe adjusted using a hovering field.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in software,hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware andapplication logic. The software, application logic and/or hardware mayreside on the apparatus, a separate device or a plurality of devices. Ifdesired, part of the software, application logic and/or hardware mayreside on the apparatus, part of the software, application logic and/orhardware may reside on a separate device, and part of the software,application logic and/or hardware may reside on a plurality of devices.In an example embodiment, the application logic, software or aninstruction set is maintained on any one of various conventionalcomputer-readable media. In the context of this document, a‘computer-readable medium’ may be any media or means that can contain,store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer, with one example of a computer described anddepicted in FIG. 2. A computer-readable medium may comprise acomputer-readable storage medium that may be any media or means that cancontain or store the instructions for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer.

If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed ina different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, ifdesired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional ormay be combined.

Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independentclaims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations offeatures from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims withthe features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinationsexplicitly set out in the claims.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes exampleembodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed ina limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modificationswhich may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: associating a first item with a first portion that comprises a rotatable layer of multiple rotatable layers of a hovering field based on a distance from a reference point associated with a device, the hovering field at least partially encompassing the device and enclosing at least a center point of the device in a three dimensional area, wherein the first item comprises an item stored in an associated storage device; providing a first virtual item representative of the first item; in response to rotating the first portion, moving the first virtual item relative to at least one other virtual item associated with at least one other portion of the hovering field; determining spatial audio based on positioning at least one sound object in a three dimensional space in response to rotating the first portion; and controlling the spatial audio in dependence on a position of the first virtual item relative to the at least one other virtual item, where the controlling comprises passing the at least one sound object through a sound rendering system and rendering the at least one sound object through multiple transducers distributed around the three dimensional space.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting the position of the at least one sound object relative to a user and selecting a first loudspeaker in dependence on the detected position.
 3. The method according to claim 2, comprising causing routing of audio represented with the at least one sound object through the first loudspeaker.
 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising re-positioning the at least one sound object, wherein re-positioning the at least one sound object causes re-routing the audio represented with the at least one sound object through a second loudspeaker.
 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein detecting the position further comprises: detecting the position based on one of a camera or a hover sensor.
 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating an audio parameter with the first portion of the hovering field; and adjusting the audio parameter in response to rotating the first portion.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the audio parameter comprises an audio equalizer setting.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hovering field comprises one of a spherical hovering field or an elliptical hovering field and rotating the first portion comprises changing a position of the first virtual item along a trajectory corresponding to a shape of the hovering field.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hovering field at least partially encompassing the device comprises at least one portion of the hovering field extending from a first side of the device to a second side of the device.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: sharing the first item stored in the device with a receiving device based on overlap between at least one rotatable layer of the hovering field and another hovering field of the receiving device.
 11. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code the at least one non-transitory memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: associate a first item with a first portion that comprises a rotatable layer of multiple rotatable layers of a hovering field based on a distance from a reference point associated with a device, the hovering field at least partially encompassing the device and enclosing at least a center point of the device in a three dimensional area, wherein the first item comprises an item stored in an associated storage device; provide a first virtual item representative of the first item; in response to rotating the first portion, move the first virtual item relative to at least one other virtual item associated with at least one other portion of the hovering field; determine spatial audio based on positioning at least one sound object in a three dimensional space in response to rotating the first portion; and control the spatial audio in dependence on a position of the first virtual item relative to the at least one other virtual item, where controlling comprises passing the at least one sound object through a sound rendering system and rendering the at least one sound object through multiple transducers distributed around the three dimensional space.
 12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising: code for associating a first item with a first portion that comprises a rotatable layer of multiple rotatable layers of a hovering field based on a distance from a reference point associated with a device, the hovering field at least partially encompassing the device and enclosing at least a center point of the device in a three dimensional area, wherein the first item comprises an item stored in an associated storage device; code for providing a first virtual item representative of the first item; code for, in response to rotating the first portion, moving the first virtual item relative to at least one other virtual item associated with at least one other portion of the hovering field; code for determining spatial audio based on positioning at least one sound object in a three dimensional space in response to rotating the first portion; and code for controlling the spatial audio in dependence on a position of the first virtual item relative to the at least one other virtual item, where the controlling comprises passing the at least one sound object through a sound rendering system and rendering the at least one sound object through multiple transducers distributed around the three dimensional space. 